Chinese Painting and Calligraphy Exhibition Opens in Kathmandu

Kathmandu. A month-long exhibition of contemporary Chinese painting and calligraphy has started in Kathmandu from Wednesday. The program titled 'Lanting Gathering: Overseas Exhibition of Contemporary Chinese Painting and Calligraphy from Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai and Chongqing' was jointly inaugurated by former Vice-Chancellor of Nepal Academy of Fine Arts Nardamuni Hartamchhali, Curator and Researcher of Wu GuanZhong Art Research Center of Tsinghua University, China Su Hang, and Deputy Director of Chinese Cultural Center in Nepal Liu Zhanping.

Speaking at the inaugural ceremony, former Vice-Chancellor Hartamchhali said that ink connects minds and art enhances friendship. He stated that such exhibitions are helpful in promoting friendship, coexistence, and cooperation. Hartamchhali added that despite diversity in creative techniques, there is closeness between Nepal and China in the field of art due to common themes and concepts. He called for interactive cooperation between the two countries in the field of fine arts and urged for more platforms for art exhibitions.

Similarly, Liu Zhanping, Deputy Director of the Chinese Cultural Center in Nepal, said that this exhibition carries the art, culture, and creative consciousness of four major cities of China: Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin, and Chongqing. He informed that the exhibition includes many famous artists, a wide range of themes, and diverse styles.

It connects the spirit of traditional brushwork with contemporary sensibilities. Deputy Director Liu said that it displays the diverse and vibrant landscape of contemporary Chinese calligraphy and painting. Nepal and China are close neighbors connected by mountains and rivers, and they have friendship for generations. Liu said, 'There is a close cultural relationship between our peoples.' He added, 'Cultural and artistic exchanges have always been an important bond that deepens mutual understanding and friendship.'

Speaking at the program, Su Hang, Curator and Researcher at Tsinghua University, China, said that these four Chinese cities together represent the most vibrant form of contemporary Chinese spirit. He mentioned that they have both the depth of tradition and the breadth of time, as well as a strong commitment to local roots and an open and embracing spirit.

The main objective of bringing these artworks to Nepal is to present a real, diverse, and continuously developing China through the most vibrant brush and ink, he said. He stated that organizing this exhibition in Kathmandu and allowing the different styles of brush and ink from these four cities to dialogue on the same wall is a cultural symphony in itself. Su Hang has previously held solo art exhibitions in New York, Oslo, Beijing, Hangzhou, and other cities around the world.

This exhibition brings together contemporary Chinese painting and calligraphy works from Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai, and Chongqing, showcasing the richness of Chinese artistic tradition and contemporary creative expression. This exhibition provides Nepali audiences with an opportunity to appreciate the contemporary interpretation of tradition.

In addition, it strengthens mutual understanding and cultural dialogue between the two countries. For centuries, Chinese painting and calligraphy have been considered important expressions of China's cultural heritage. It reflects artistic excellence, philosophical thought, and aesthetic values. This exhibition is jointly organized by the Chinese Cultural Center in Nepal, China Center of International Cultural Exchange and Tourism Promotion, and Beijing China Millennium Monument Art Foundation.